The cool morning air carried on it the scent of newly blossoming flowers and the cheerful songs of young birds. Despite the pleasant atmosphere that surrounded the Shinsengumi headquarters, one man sat in front of his breakfast with a scowl etched into his features. Souji knew he would regret joining the other captains for their first meal that day, yet for some ungodly reason he had chosen to anyway.
"Well? Where did you go last night?"
"What was she like?" His green gaze darted between two other pairs of wide, expectant eyes, one pair icy blue and the other a darker aqua hue.
"I already told you, I don't know what you're talking about. I went on ahead of you guys so I could get to bed," he explained, growing increasingly annoyed by his companions' intrusive questioning. Shinpachi and Heisuke exchanged doubtful glances, neither one buying his lie.
"Come on Souji, you don't really expect us to believe that, do you?" It was Sanosuke who had spoken up this time. He was generally more than content to mind his own business, but even his curiosity was piqued by Souji's behavior. "We may have been drunk, but I was still able to recognize that you disappeared before we left Shimabara." Souji huffed and took a bite of rice. He decided that at this point, his best course of action was to stay silent.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Heisuke tried to reason. "Look at Shinpachi, I think every woman in the district knows his face by now!" His statement earned him a punch to the shoulder from the larger man.
"Oi, shut the hell up, Heisuke!" he snapped.
"Ow! What the hell Shin, that hurt damnit! I'm trying to get Souji to talk."
"You don't need to do it at my expense!" Souji rolled his eyes and tried his best to block out their ruckus. He instead turned his focus to the man beside him, sparing him a look out of the corner of his eye. He had remained silent all morning, which wasn't entirely unusual for him; however, behind his indigo locks, Souji could see that his normally clear blue eyes appeared troubled.
"Saito," he began, getting Hajime Saito's attention. "Is there something wrong? You seem bothered." The reserved man sighed and placed his bowl and chopsticks on the tray in front of him.
"It's nothing immediately serious, but could become a cause for concern in the future." As he spoke, Heisuke, Sanosuke and Shinpachi all quieted down and gave him their full attention. "During the course of my patrol last night, my unit and I encountered several robberies shortly before sunrise. No one had been injured and each time it seemed that we had been only moments too late. I only caught a glimpse of the culprit once, but he was fast. He was gone before I even really had an opportunity to pursue him. I've already reported the incidents to Kondou." Everyone had been listening intently to Saito and once he was finished they all nodded nearly simultaneously.
"I'll be sure to keep an ear to the ground for our thief on my patrol today," Sanosuke assured. Saito gave a nod in thanks, then got to his feet and left quietly. After having done the night patrol, he would be returning to his quarters to get some sleep, and soon the others would be getting started on their duties for the day. Once they were all distracted, Souji would be free to take care of his own business for the day.
"Let go of me!" Mikoto demanded, trying in vain to pull away from the inn's owner. The man had a painfully tight grip on her wrist that he refused to loosen no matter how much she struggled. "Let go of me, you bastard!" she snapped once more. He gave her a sharp tug and brought his face inches from her own.
"I can throw you back out on the streets just as easily as I took you in, you little bitch," he growled, his putrid breath hitting her nose and causing her to flinch away.. "Now tell me the damn truth. I was told that the man you saw last night is a part of the Shinsengumi." Mikoto said nothing, her only response was to glare daggers at the man. "Well?" His fingers tightened even further and she could feel her circulation begin to dwindle.
"How the hell would I know if he's one of them?" She decided playing dumb would be her best bet. "Even if he is, he was just a man satisfying a need, he wasn't here on their behalf."
"What the hell does that matter? A wolf is a wolf! I don't need the fucking Shinsengumi poking around here!" She opened her mouth to argue but didn't get the opportunity before he spoke again. "He will not be welcomed back here." His face then twisted into a malicious sneer, his eyes doing a quick sweep over her figure. "But if you're truly that desperate for a customer, that's certainly something I can take care of for you." In the next instant, he was reaching for the top of her kimono, attempting to pull it down while maintaining his grasp on her wrist.
"No!" She tried once again to pull away from him, this time using the full weight of her body. This threw both of them off balance, causing her to fall backwards, bringing him crashing down on top of her. She felt the air rush out of her lungs. Though it stalled him, the fall did not halt his advance.
"No man wants such an unruly woman, why don't you just settle down and do what you're meant to." Regathering her strength, Mikoto squirmed beneath him, doing the best she could to fend him off with one hand while the other reached out desperately for the floorboard under which she hid her sword. Just as her nails began scraping the wood in an attempt to lift the board from her awkward angle, she heard the door slide open. Whoever had entered let out an exasperated sigh and the innkeeper suddenly froze.
"Damn, and here I thought I wouldn't have to deal with you today. I got my hopes up when I didn't see you at the front." The man on top of her slowly turned to face the doorway and Mikoto ceased her struggling, also turning her attention to the speaker. Her gaze landed on a handsome, emerald eyed brunet. "Oh well…" he muttered, giving another sigh.
"Okita-sama…" A relieved smile graced her lips. He caught her eyes when she spoke and he gave her a wry smirk. He began absentmindedly drumming his fingers along the hilt of his sword.
"Hey, Hasegawa-chan, what's going on here? Not giving some other man my time, are you?" he questioned. "I told you that your time belonged to me today." As Souji spoke, the other man had time to gather up some courage.
"Get the hell out of here, you damn wolf!" he snapped. Souji's gaze moved lazily as his attention was pulled from Mikoto to the innkeeper. His green eyes darkened with menace as they landed on him.
"I don't need scum like you ordering me around. If you're a smart man, you'll let the woman go and collect the payment I've left out front." Souji's voice was calm as he spoke, but his tone made it clear that there was no room for debate. After a moment of tense silence, the man lost his nerve under Souji's threatening stare. He scrambled to his feet and hurried past Souji, wanting out of the room as quickly as possible. Once he was gone, Souji let out a joyful laugh as if everything that had just happened had been a joke. "Well that was fun, yeah Hasegawa?" He looked down at her and received a slight scowl in return.
"Fun for you, perhaps." He let out another laugh, then held out a hand to help her up.
"You're quite clumsy aren't you, ending up on the floor like that," he teased. He glanced over to the floorboard she had been reaching for. "If I were you, I'd keep that sword of yours more accessible." She sighed but nodded in agreement.
"I owe you my thanks, Okita-sama," she said with a small bow. He waved a dismissive hand.
"No need for that. Are you ready to go?" He didn't bother to wait for her answer before turning on his heel and starting towards the exit, leaving Mikoto to catch up.
Mikoto and Souji sat outside one of the market's more popular food vendors, a sizable pile of dango sitting between the two of them. Mikoto was the only one eating at the moment, while Souji simply sat, his head resting in his hand. He watched, amused by her ravenous appetite, as she scarfed down stick after stick of dango.
"That grace and girlish charm of yours seems to disappear as soon as food gets involved," he stated in a playful tone. "Honestly, how are you so small?" She stopped mid bite, her cheeks flushing. She set the dango down slowly, then finished the bite in her mouth.
"I'm sorry. I've been saving my earnings as much as possible lately, so I haven't had much to eat," she explained. He chuckled.
"It's fine, just slow down a little, I'm not made of money myself." She nodded.
"Why don't you eat a little? I'd feel like less of a glutton if you did…" At her suggestion, he picked up a stick and shoved it in his mouth.
"Aappy?" he mumbled around the food in his mouth. She let out a bright, cheery laugh, nodded, then continued eating as well. With the two of them eating together, they made quick work of the plate, and once the dango was gone, they were ready to continue on their way through the market. Mikoto trailed slightly behind Souji as they walked, her eyes focused on his back. She couldn't help but bask in the sense of comfort and safety she felt being by this man's side. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, but as warm and wonderful as it was, it brought along with it a pang of sadness. Lost in her thoughts, Mikoto almost didn't notice Souji coming to a stop in front of a tailor shop. They looked at one another for a moment, then Mikoto quickly scanned the, undoubtedly, expensive selection of beautiful kimonos and ornate fabrics. She looked back at him to see him staring at her expectantly. "Well? Go on and pick something out."
"It was really just a small tear, I don't know if I could let you pay for something like one of these for something as insignificant as that…" She fidgeted nervously as she spoke. He folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a small tear that wouldn't be there if not for me," he pointed out. "Now go on and pick something out, before I change my mind." With a hesitant nod, she turned and disappeared into the shop. She took her time trying on kimono after kimono. She could hear the hushed whispers of the women around her and feel their envious stares. She used the small hand mirror she was holding to look back at Souji as inconspicuously as possible. A couple of young women had stopped to speak with him, but he seemed entirely uninterested. Mikoto felt almost relieved by this, but then shook her head. Being close to someone like him could be dangerous for her. As little as she wanted to, she knew that they would have to part ways.
"It's for the best…" she reminded herself. After trying on several more kimonos and spending some time weighing her options, Mikoto settled on a deep purple kimono with golden accents, which complimented her eyes quite well. She brought her selection up to Souji, who had been watching and waiting patiently.
"This is the one?" She nodded. He looked at the kimono in her hands and then back to her, nodding his approval, before taking it from her and speaking to the owner to pay for it. They started on their way back to the inn, a comfortable silence falling over them. As they walked, their pace relaxed and leisurely, neither could help but to steal glances of the other. On the occasions when their eyes would meet, both would be quick to look away. Walking side by side felt natural to each of them, but it wasn't long before they reached their destination, much to their disappointment. Souji chose to walk her in, worried what the innkeeper may do if he sent her in alone. Once in front of her room, they stopped and simply looked at one another, neither in a rush to say goodbye. Mikoto finally gave a small bow.
"Thank you, Okita-sama," she started, breaking the silence. "You've shown me more kindness today than I've known most of my life." His features softened into a sweet, genuine smile with no hint of teasing, as Mikoto had come to expect.
"It's the least a beautiful woman such as yourself deserves. Good luck, and please try to get yourself out of this place." She nodded. The two of them shared one last lingering moment of eye contact before Souji turned, ready to walk away. He only made it a couple of steps before both of them seemed to reach the same split second decision, despite any reservations. Mikoto reached out to take a hold of his sleeve in the same moment that he chose to whip back around to face her.
"Please come back again, Okita-sama!"
"I'll come back again, Mikoto-chan!" They froze as their words left their mouths simultaneously, their widened eyes locked with one another's. Souji was the first to relax, a wolfish grin tugging on his lips. "Oh, have you fallen for my good looks?" Mikoto's expression became equally mischievous as she let go of his sleeve.
"Of course not, don't flatter yourself. I just enjoy having a personal bodyguard, that's all. Though, it does seem like you must be ready to take me up on my offer from last night." At that, they shared a laugh.
"I'll be back on one condition. No more of that formal bullshit, you make me feel like an old man. Just Souji from now on."
"I think I can agree to that." They exchanged one last smile before Souji turned to truly leave this time, giving a lazy wave as he walked down the hall. He stopped at the counter, giving the cowardly innkeeper a predatory grin.
"It's been lovely doing business with you, but that woman is under my care now. Should I ever find out that you or any other filth has touched her, I will kill you."